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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. J. STUART.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

N0.'319,431. Patented June 2, 1885.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. J. STUART.

PAPER. FEEDING MACHINE.

No. 319,431. Patented June 2 1885.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

R. J. STUART.

PAPER FEEDING MAGHINE,

No. 319,431. Patented June 2, 1885.

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R. J. STUART.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

No. 319,431. Patented June 2, 1885.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. R. J. STUART.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. No. 319,431. Patented June 2, 1885.

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soccer J. STUART, or POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, Assicnon To THE snneWicKMANUFACTURING ooMrANY, or SAME PLACE.

Meta-resume amen-use.

SPECIFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 3l9 ,31, dated June 2,1885.

Application filed January 29, .1884.

To ctZZ whom, it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. STUART, of the city of Foughkeepsie, inthe county of Dutchess and State of New York,have invented new anduseful Improvements in Paper- Feeding Machines, of .which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of machines whichare employed for feeding sheet-paper to ruling, folding, and calenderingmachines, printing-presses, and other kinds of machines in whichsheet-paper is used.

The invention relates more particularly to a machine by which the topsheet is removed from the pile of paper by turning the top sheet so asto separate it from the pile and bring it within reach of the carryingrollers or tapes which move the sheets onward one after another.

A machine of this description is described,

shown, and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 282, 014,granted tome July 24-, 1883; and my present invention consists ofimprovements on this machine, and has the object to render the machinemore efficient and reliable in its operation. i

My invention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafterfully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of five sheets, Figure l is aside elevation of my improved machine; Fig. 2, an end elevation of myimproved machine. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. 4. is avertical sectional elevation of the pivot'resting on the paper and theparts connected therewith. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of thehorizontal arm secured to the upper end of the pivot-spindle. Fig. 6 isa side elevation of the mechanism whereby the upper carrying-rollers areraised and lowered. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the side frames andfeedscrews. Fig. 8 is a' horizontal section in line as m, Fig. 7. Fig. 9is a side elevation of the gear mechanism whereby the counter-shaft isdriven from the driving-shaft. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the devicewhereby the rocklever of the buckling mechanism is actuated. Fig. 11 isa side elevation of 'the mechanism whereby the pivot-lifting device isactuated. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional elevation (N0 model.)

showing the holding fingers and buckling device resting on the pile ofpaper. Fig. 13 is a cross-section of the same devices. top plan'view ofthe adjustable foot resting on the paper. Fig. 15 is a horizontalsection iii line as 0:,Fig. 4:. Fig. 16 is an elevation of the pivot.Fig. 17 is a vertical section of the gage or foot resting on .the paperand the parts connected therewith. Fig. 18 is an elevation of the outerside of that portion of the side frame which is adjacent to the footresting on the paper. Fig. 19 is a perspective view of one of thefingers whereby the top sheet is moved.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the severalfigures.

A A represent the side frames of the machine, connected by cross-stays aa. A represents the feed-table, upon which the pile of paper A isplaced. The feed-table A is secured to supports a, which are provided,near their outer ends, with screw-nuts a and upright extensions (6,having rollers a, which run in vertical grooves a, formed on the innersides of the side frames, A, whereby the feed table is guided in itsvertical movements.

1) represents vertical feed screws, which work in the screw-nuts csecured to the feedtable, and which are held against lengthwise movementin bearings b, secured to the side frames, A.

B represents a handwheel secured to the upper end of one of thefeed-screws, and provided on its'under side with an annular ratchet-rim,b' The lower ends of the feed-screws are connected by a horizontalshaft, 12 and bevel-wheels b, so that both feed-screws are actuatedsimultaneously.

0 represents the vertical'pivot, which rests upon the pile of paper andforms a center on which the top sheet is turned. The upper portion ofthe pivot G is provided with a tubular socket, c, of an upright spindle,c.

Fig. 14 is a in which is fitted the lower end c is a tubular bearing orsleeve, in which the" upper portion of the spindle 0 turns, andwhichpasses through ascrew-nut, c". The latter is fitted in an elongatedopening, d, formed diagonally in a transverse brace or bar, D, whichconnects the upper ends of the sidev frames, A. The screw-nut c issecured in position in the elongated opening 02 by a handnut, 0, appliedto the upper end of the externally-threaded sleeve 0" and bearingagainst the upper side of the slotted brace D, and a collar or flange, 0formed at the lower end of the sleeve 0 and bearing against the lowerside of the slotted brace D, as represented in Fig. 4. Upon releasingthe hand-nut c the nut c is loosened in the slot d and can be adjustedback and forth in the same, thereby adjusting the pivot 0 toward or fromthe middle ofthe feed-table, as may be necessary with sheets ofdifferent sizes. The pivot G has a limited vertical movement on thespindle c.

E represents acurved arm, which is rigidly secured with its upper end tothe spindle c, and which is provided at its lower end with a bifurcatedbearing, 0, in which turns ahorizontal shaft, 6.

. 6 represents an arm, which is firmly secured to the horizontal shaft6, between the jaws of the bearingaand which straddles with itsbifurcated end a the upper portion of the pivot G. The latter isprovided with recesses or depressions e in which the ends. e of the arm6 engage, so that the horizontal shaft 6 receives a rocking motion whenthe pivot O israised or lowered.

F represents the fingers, which are secured to the horizontal shaft 6and provided at their ends with bearing-pieces f, of rubber or othersimilar material, which rest upon the paper and turn and move the topsheet during the forward movement of the fingers.

g is a horizontal rock-shaft, which is supported in bracket-bearings GG, secured to the ends of the slotted central portion of the cross-pieceD.

g is an arm, which is secured to the rockshaft g,and which straddleswithits bifurcated end the upper portion of the pivot O. The latter isprovided with an annular groove, 9, in which the bifurcated end of thearm 9 engages, so that the pivot can be raised and lowcred on thespindle c by the arm while the pivot is being turned.

H represents an arm secured to the upper end of the spindle c forturning the same, and h is a connecting-rod, whereby the arm H isconnected with the actuating rock-lever I. .The arm H is provided with aslot, h, in which is arranged an adjustable block, 7L2, which can bemoved toward and from the spindle e by an adjusting-screw, h ,.and whichis clamped by a screw-nut,, h, in position in the slot h after it hasbeen adjusted. The block h is provided on the outer side of the arm Hwith a vertical socket in which is pivoted a bifurcated carrier, hto-which the inner end of the connecting-rod h is attached by ahorizontal bolt, h". This bolt forms a universal joint with the verticalpivot h by which the carrier h is attached to the block h", therebygiving the connectingrod h the requisite freedom of movement.

j represents the horizontal driving-shaft, arranged transversely in themachine and sup ported in bearings in the side frames, A. j

represents a counter-shaft arranged below the driving-shaft j andparallel with the same. Motion is transmitted from the driving-shaft jby a train of gear-wheels, J J J in such manner that the speed of thecounter-shaft j can be increased or reduced by changing the size of thegear-wheel J and adjusting the gear-wheel J accordingly.

J 3 represents a clutch-coupling,whereby the drivingpulley J 4 can beconnected or disconnected, as desired.

j represents a rock-shaft arranged in rear of the driving shaft j andparallel therewith. The rock-arm I is secured to'the rockshaft j, andthe latter is set in motion by an eccentric, I, secured to thecounter-shaft j and connected with a downward extension, i, 'of therock-arm I. The upper end .of the rock-arm I is connected with theconnecting-rod h by a universal joint composed of a bearing, 2', securedto the upper end of the arm I by a horizontal bolt, i, and a bearing, f,in which the outer end of the connecting-rod is secured, and which isattached to the bearing 2" by a vertical bolt, v3 1 K represents anelbow lever,whieh is mounted loosely upon the roek-shaftjfland providedat the end of its lower arm, 7c,with a roller, k.

76 is a cam secured to the counter-shaft j, opposite the roller 75, soas to actuate the elbow-lever K.

k represents the upper arm of the elbowlever, and 7a a rod, whereby thisarm is connected with an arm, 7?, secured to the horizontal rock-shaftg. The cam k moves the lower arm of the lever K forwardly, and therebyrocks the shaft 9 in its hearings in an upward direction, which movementis transmitted by the arm 9 to the tubular pivot O, and from the latterthrough the arm 0 to the rock-shaft 0", whereby the fingers F are liftedfrom the paper. This movement occurs when the fingers F have completedtheir forward movement, and the parts are'held in this elevated positionby the cam k until the fingers have completed their backward movement,when the cam releases the lever K and thereby permits the parts todescend to their former position, in which the pivot O and fingers Frest upon the top sheet.

The forward and backward movement of the fingers F is effected by therock-arm I and the parts whereby the said rock-arm is connected with thespindle c, and the tubular pivot 0 turns on the spindle c with thefingers by reason of, the arm e engaging in the recesses e of the pivot.

The arm 9' is made adjustable on the shaft 9, so that it can follow theadjustment of the pivot in the slot d of the bracket D.

Zrepresentsafinger, which is pivoted to a bracket, L, secured to across-piece, L, connecting the side frames, A, and which rests with itsfree end upon the corner of the pile adjacent to the buck-ling device.The finger Z is held down upon the paper by aspiral spring,

aiaasi 3,

Z,which is secured to a collar, 1*, on the rockshaft j M represents thebuckling-finger, which is pivoted to the rock-arm I by a bolt, m, passing through a slot, m, in the rock-arm, so that the finger can beadjusted backward or forward, as may be necessary. The free end of thefinger M is provided with a bearingpiece, m of rubber or other suitablematerial, resting upon the paper in front of the finger Z.

m is a roller or stud attached to the finger M, and adapted to ride uponthe upper side of the finger Z during the last portion of the backwardmovement of the finger M, whereby the finger is lifted from the paperand its pressure added to that of the finger l,whereby the pile is moresecurely held in place on the feed-table.

n represents a supplemental pressure-finger adapted to bear upon thefurther corner of the pile on the same side of the machine on which thefinger Z is arranged. The finger n is attached to an elbow-lever, N,which is pivoted to the bracket L at n. The finger n is secured to thelever N by a bolt, a, passing through a longitudinal slot, a, in theupper arm of the lever N, so that the finger a can be adjusted toward orfrom the finger Z, according to the size of the sheets operated upon.The elbow-lever N is actuated by a cam or crank, a, secured to thecounter-shaft j in such manner that the finger n is lifted from the topsheet when the same is moved out from under the finger by the fingers F.At all other times the finger a is held down upon the top sheet by aspring, or, connecting the upper arm of the lever N with the stationaryframe of the machine.

0 represents a gage or feet, which rests upon the top sheet between thefingers Z and n, and which serves the double function of regulating theupward feed motion of the table A, and of operating, in connection withthe finger M, as a buckling device. During the forward movement of thefinger M the foot 0 rests upon the top sheet in front of thebearing-piece m of the finger M, whereby the top sheet is buckled andseparated from the pile, as represented in Fig. 12.

The foot 0 is provided with an upwardly projecting screw-stem, 0, whichworks in a threaded opening in a horizontal arm, 0, and is secured inposition on the same after being adjusted by a jam nut, 0 The arm 0 isattached to an inwardly projecting arm, 0', formed on an upright rod, 0The arm 0 is attached to the arm 0 by a vertical bolt, 0, passingthrough a longitudinal slot, 0 in the arm oflwhereby the position of thefoot 0 can be adjusted with reference to the bucklingfinger M as may benecessary in order to properly buckle the top sheet. The upper end ofthe rod 0 is guided on the adjacent side frame, A, bya horizontal bolt,p,which passes U through a vertical slot, 1), in the side frame.

The lower end of the rod 0 is attached to an elbow-lever, P, which ispivoted to the side frame, A, at p, and which has its short arm 19provided with a roller, 1). The latter is operated upon by acam, psecured to the counter-shaft j, and formed in such manner that it willcause the foot 0 to be lifted from the top sheet when the latter isready to be withdrawn from under the foot 0 by the fingers F. The foot 0is held down on the top sheet by a spring, 1)", connecting the arm 0with the stationary frame of the machine.

q represents a pawl, which engages with the ratchet-rim b on thehand-wheel B. The pawl q is pivoted to the upper end of an elbow-1ever,Q, which is pivoted to the outer side of the adjacent side frame, A atq. The lower arm of the lever Q is provided with a roller, 1 which isoperated upon by a cam, Q3, secured to the counter-shaft j. The cam g isso formed that it will produce a rocking motion in the lever Q, therebymoving the pawl q back and forth over the ratchet-rim I)".

is a projection or nose formed on the lower arm of the lever Q andengaging against a J shoulder, Q5, on the outer side of the lever P,whereby the stroke of the lever Q and the motion which the pawl qproduces in the ratchetwheel I) are regulated. In the same measure asthe foot 0 descends by the removal of the sheets from the top of thepile the lever l and the stop q descend also, whereby the. oscillationof the lever Qand the stroke of th( pawl q are increased, so that therotation 01 the wheel B and the feed screws is propertionate to andcontrolled by'the amount of paper which is removed from the top of thepile. The pawl q is held in engagement with the ratchet-rim b by aspring, r, which connects the heel of the pawl with a lever, It, pivotedto the outer side of the adjacent side frame, A at r. The end of thelever B adjacent to the upright rod k is bent at right angles to themain portion of thelever R, which extends along the outer side of theside frame, A. This bent portion of the lever It engages under a stop,0, on the rod 0, and a stop, 9', on the rod is".

Upon depressing the handle 1' of the lever It, the bent portion of thelever It is raised, thereby raising the rods 0 and 7c" and lifting thefoot 0, the pivot 0, and the fingers F from the pile. The spring r isreleased at the same time, thereby disengaging the pawl q from theratchetrim N. The feed-table can now be lowered for supplying a freshcharge of paper to the machine by turning the handwheel B. The lever Bcan be locked in this position d uring this operation by a turn-button,r, pivoted to the side frame.

S represents the grooved tape'roller, arranged in front of thefeed-table A, with its upper side in line with the top sheet, so as toreceive on its upper surface the top sheet as the latter is removed fromthe pile by the fingers F. The roller S is provided with carrying-tapesin any usual and wellknown manner.

S are rollers mounted upon a horizontal cam, 8 mounted on thecountershaft j and engaging with a bell-crank lever, s, which is pivotedto .the inner side of the adjacent side frame, and provided at the endof its lower arm with a roller, 8, which bears against the eccentric s".The upper arm of the lever s is connected with one of the arms .9 by aconnecting rod, .9. The eccentric s is so formed and arranged upon theshaft that the rollers S are held in an elevated position, asrepresented in Fig. 6, while the top sheet is being fed on the roller S,and so that the rollers S are lowered and caused to press upon the topsheet when the front portion thereof has been properly placed on theroller S. In this position of the rollers S the top sheet is clampedbetween the rollers S S, and thereby moved forwardly on the tapes whichpass around the lower roller, S. When the sheet has cleared the rollersS'S,the rollers S are again elevated by the abovedescribed mechanism. I

The operation of the machine is as follows: The pile of paper beingplaced upon the feedtable A, the fingers Zand a, the foot 0, the pivotG, and the fingers F all rest upon the top sheet. The forward movementof the finger M draws the corner of the top sheet from under the fingerZ, and buckles the corner of this sheet against the foot 0, therebyseparating the top sheet from the pile. The re turn movement of thefinger M carries the corner of the top sheet back upon the finger Z, theend of the latter being sharpened to allow the sheet to slide upon thetop of the finger. The finger M, resting on the finger Z, holds thelatter more tightly upon the feed-table. The curvilinear movement of thefingers F now causes the top sheet to be turned on the pile toward therollers S S, and the foot 0 and finger a are lifted by their actuatingmechanism in order to permit the fingers F to move the top sheet awayfrom under the finger a and the foot 0. In turning the top sheet on thepile toward the rollers S S, the pivot 0 acts as a center or fulcrum onwhich the top sheet turns. The forward movement of the fingersEcontinues until the front edge of the top sheet has been squarelyplaced upon the roller S. "When this has been accomplished, the rollersS descend and grip the front vedge of the top sheet, and the latter isnow fed forward, by the rollers S S, upon the carryingtapes. Before thetop sheet has been gripped by the rollers S S the fingers F and thepivot O are lifted from the pile by the action of the cam k andconnecting parts, to allow the turned top sheet to be carried off by therollers, and are held in an elevated position during the return movementof the fingers. When the fingers F have completed their returnstroke,they are again dropped, together with the pivot 0, upon the paper, andthe next forward movement of the fingers begins, whereby the sheet whichis now on the top of the pile is turned and moved forward between therollers S S. 1

By changing the position of the pivot G in the elongated opening d andproperly adjust= ing the parts connected therewith, the mechanismwhereby the top sheet is turned and moved forward is adjusted to thesize of the sheet operated upon.

In Fig. 3 the position of the pile of paper on the table is indicated infulllines, and the top sheet is represented in dotted lines in one ofthe positions which it assumes while it is being turned on the pile.

' I claim as my invention- 1. In a machine for feeding sheets of paperfrom a pile, the combination, with a verticallymovable bed supportingthe pile, of a gage resting on the pile, mechanism, substantially asdescribed, whereby the gage controls automaticall y the movement of thepile-supporting bed, a buckling-finger operating, in connection withsaid gage, to buckle the top sheet, and a rubbing-fingerhavingacurvilinearmotion in a plane parallel with the pile-supporting bed,whereby the top sheet is turned on the pile and moved forward,substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for feeding sheets of paper from a pile, thecombination, with a verticallymovable bed supporting the pile, of a gageresting on the pile, mechanism, substantially as described, whereby thegage controls,automatieally, the movement of the pile-supporting bed, abuckling-finger operating, in connection with said gage, to buckle thetop sheet, a pivot resting on the pile, and a rubbing-finger having acurvilinear motion, whereby the top sheet is turned and removed,substantially as set forth.-

3. In a machine for feeding sheets of paperfrom a pile, the combination,with the stationary frame, pile-supporting bed, and feedingfingers, of avertical spindle, a pivot fitted loosely on the lower end of thespindle, and mechanism, substantially as described, whereby the pivotcan be raised and lowered onthe spindle to bear upon the pile or clearthe same, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for feeding sheets of paper from a pile, thecombination, with the stationary frame, pile-supporting bed, andfeedingstantially as described, whereby the pivot is raised and loweredon the spindle to bear up on the pile or clear the same, substantiallyas set forth.

5. In a machine for feeding sheets of paper from a pile, thecombination, with the side frames, pile-supporting bed, cross-piece D,

and vertical spindle c, of the'pivot 0, rockshaft and arm substantiallyas set forth.

6. The combination, with the cross-piece D, vertical spindle c, andpivot O, of the rockshaft 6, fingers F, attached thereto, arm 6connecting the rock-shaft c with the pivot 0, rock-shaft g, and arm 9,connecting said rockshaft 9 with the pivot, substantially as set forth.

7 In a machine for feeding sheets of paper from a pile, the combination,with the side frames, pile-supporting bed, and cross-piece D, providedwith elongated opening d, of the spindle c, screw-sleeve c screw-nut c,and clamp-nut c, pivot G, and feeding-fingers F, substantially as setforth.

8. In a machine for feeding sheets of paper from a pile, thecombination, with the stationary frame, pile-supporting bed, andfeedingfingers F, of the spindle 0, provided with arm H, connecting-rodh, and rock-arm I, a pivot, C, fitted loosely on the spindle, andaroclrshaft, 9, and arm 9, whereby the pivot is raised and lowered,substantially as set forth.

9. In a machine for feeding sheets of paper from a pile, thecombination,with the stationary frame, pile'supporting bed, andfeedingfingers F, the spindle c and pivot C, and the cross-piece D,having an elongated opening, d, of bearings G, secured to saidcross-piece, a rock-shaft, 9, supported in said bearings, and an arm, 9,connecting said rock-shaft with the pivot, and made lengthwiseadjustable on said rock-shaft, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with the spindle c and pivot O, of a bearing, E,secured to said spindle, a rock-shaft, 0, supported in said bearing, afinger, F, secured to said rock-shaft, and mechanism, substantially asdescribed, whereby said rock-shaft is turned for raising and loweringthe finger, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, with the stationary frame, of a spindle, a pivotfitted loosely on the spindle, a rubbingfinger adapted to turn .the topsheet, and mechanism, substantially as described,whereby the pivot andrubbingfinger are raised and lowered simultaneously, substantially asset forth.

12. The combination, with the gage resting on the pile, of holding-downfingers resting on the corners of the pile in front and in rear of thegage, and a rubbing-finger operating to buckle the top sheet against thegage, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination, with the adjustable feed-table, of a gage restingon the pile and made vertically adjustable in its support, andmechanism, substantially as described,whereby the gage controls the feedmotion of the table, substantially as set forth.

14.. The combination,with the feed-table, of the gage 0, provided with ascrew-stem, 0, slotted arm, 0, and rod, 0 connecting the gage with theniechanism,whereby the feedmotion of the table is controlled,substantially as set forth.

15. The combination,with the feed-table, of the gage 0, arm 0, rod 0*,bolt p, and side frame, A, provided with vertical slot 1), substantially as set forth.

16. The combination, with the feed-table, gage O, hold-down finger Z,and bucklingfinger M, of the finger a, secured to the elbowlever N, andadapted to rest upon the corner or edge of the pile, and to be liftedwhen the top sheet is being drawn from under said finger, substantiallyas set forth.

17. The combination, with the feed-table, gage O, hold-dow11 finger Z,and bucklingfinger M, of the finger a, secured to the elbowlever N inthe slot 02 of the same, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination, with the lever B, of the gage O and rod 0 providedwith a stop or shoulder, 0, adapted to be raised by the lever It,substantially as set forth.

19. The combination, with the lever R, of the pawl q, pivoted to thelever Q, and the spring 7", connecting the pawl with the lever B,substantially as set forth.

20. The combination,with the pivot O, rubbing-finger F, lever It, rodand mechanism, substantially as described, whereby said rod is connectedwith the pivot and rubbingfingers, of a stop, a, formed on said rod andadapted to be lifted by the lever It,whereby the pivot andrubbing-finger can be lifted from the pile, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination,with the gage O, pivot O, and rubbingfingers F, ofthe lever 1%, whereby all of said parts are lifted from the pilesimultaneously, and mechanism, substantially as described,whereby thelever B is connected with said parts, substantially as set forth. q

22. The combination, with the feed-table and the vertically-movablegage-rod, of a horizontally-adjustable extension and avertically-adjustable gage secured thereto, and

adapted to be placed at varying distances from the bucklingfinger,substantially as set forth.

WVitness my hand this 18th day of January, 1884.

ROBERT J. STUART.

\Vitnesses NATHANIEL STUART, M. G. BENTELL.

IIO

